Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind

* * *

Transport Ship Serenity – On route to Toulouse – 2519 AD

‘They’re still at it?’ Wash asked incredulously, pointing at the two players ‘That’s how many games?’

‘I lost count’ Simon answered. ‘I watched the first few because it was entertaining but in the end I just couldn’t take it any more, way too hard to keep track. Every so often I come back to see what’s happening’

‘How can anybody think that watching Chess is entertaining? I’d get a bigger kick out of watching Kaylee grease up the…’Wash frowned. ‘And you can wipe that look off your face because I’m a married man and when I watch Kaylee put grease on things I’m not thinking about what you’re thinking about’

Simon blushed and cast his eyes downwards. The mechanic and he had been an item for a while now but he was still a mite sensitive on the subject.

Mal is right, thought Wash. It really is fun making the Doc squirm. Just have to make sure not to do it too often or I’ll only have the dinosaurs to play with.

‘Honestly it really is entertaining’ Simon continued, trying to bring the conversation back to a less embarrassing topic than his love life. ‘When they first started playing a few days ago he played competently but conventionally. He’s a good player, better than me in fact and I’m rather good’

‘And so modest too’ Wash joked. ‘So the Prof did okay then?’

‘No. River beat the pants off him’ Simon sighed. ‘No shame in it. I haven’t won a game against my Sister since she was six’

‘So the genius Sister trumps the short academic every time then. So where’s the entertainment value?’

‘Well they started on the third game and then just as River started to put him under pressure something must have snapped because he got what I can only describe as this slightly crazed look in his eyes, and he sta